Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Sharmila Tagore Remembers Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Warm, Egalitarian Sets
Sharmila Tagore spoke about the filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee, whom she called Hrishida.
They made several films together, including Anupama, Satyakam and Chupke Chupke.
She said he treated people kindly and did not favor one actor over another.
He looked after the whole film crew, not just the stars.
His sets were fun, even when the films were serious.
Tagore also said he worked efficiently and rarely wasted film stock.
She especially enjoyed making the comedy Chupke Chupke.
She remembered that he loved chess and cats, and that illness affected him later in life.
Sharmila Tagore recalled Hrishikesh Mukherjee as friendly, humorous and respectful toward everyone on set.
She said he was not partial to any actor and protected the entire film unit during a location problem on Satyakam.
Tagore praised his efficient filmmaking, saying he did not waste time or raw stock and often wrapped ahead of schedule.
She remembered working with him on Anupama, Satyakam and Chupke Chupke, and described the comedy as a joyful shoot.
Tagore said Mukherjee valued relationships over money and recalled that ill health left him bedridden in his later years.
- Who
- Sharmila Tagore recalled filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee, with whom she worked on Anupama, Satyakam and Chupke Chupke.
- What
- Tagore shared memories of Mukherjee’s personality, filmmaking, and their work together.
- When
- The interview was published around Mukherjee’s 104th birth anniversary on September 30.
- Where
- The recollections concern film sets and locations, including Khandala.
- Why
- Tagore was asked to remember Mukherjee and discuss their collaborations.
Claim of actor preference
Tagore’s account
Whether Mukherjee favored an actor
Claim of actor preference
The interviewer raised the claim that Dharmendra had said Mukherjee preferred Rajesh Khanna.
Tagore’s account
Tagore said Mukherjee was not partial to any one actor and recalled him protecting the whole unit.
- Filmmaker
- Hrishikesh Mukherjee, also called Hrishida
- Interviewee
- Sharmila Tagore
- Films together
- Anupama, Satyakam and Chupke Chupke
- Birth anniversary
- His 104th birth anniversary was marked on September 30
- Filming recollection
- Tagore said the team often packed up ahead of schedule
- Later years
- Tagore recalled that Mukherjee was bedridden during his final years